Peter Adkison

Infobox Person
name = Peter D. Adkison

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caption = Adkison at Gen Con Indy 2007
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occupation = CEO, Owner of Gen Con
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Peter D. Adkisoncite web | url = http://www.gencon.com/2007/indy/press/peter.aspx | title = Biography, Peter D. Adkison | accessdate = 2007-06-21 | work = Gen Con Indy | language = English ] is a game developer, one of the founders of game companies Wizards of the Coast and Hidden City Games. Peter Adkison is the current owner of Gen Con. His work includes "The Primal Order", a "capstone system" for use with any of a number of different role-playing games. From 1993 through 2001 Adkison was CEO for Wizards of the Coast. In January 2001 he sold Wizards of the Coast to Hasbro. As of 2005 he is CEO of the relatively new Hidden City Games and working to promote their new game Clout Fantasy. Adkison is a long time fan of role-playing games in general and "Dungeons & Dragons" specifically.

Background

As a child Adkison played strategy games and wargames.cite web | url = http://gamingoutpost.com/article/interview_peter_adkison/ | title = Interview: Peter Adkison | accessdate = 2007-06-21 | last = McNutt | first = Greg | work = The Gaming Outpost | language = English] In 1978 he was exposed to "Dungeons & Dragons" which "blew [him] away." He has a "Dungeons & Dragons" campaign named Chaldea that he has run since 1981. As of 2002, Adkison was running two "Dungeons & Dragons" campaigns and playing in three. He enjoys a wide variety of games including ', "Twitch", "Settlers of Catan", "Robo Rally", "Call of Cthulhu", ', and the "Legend of the Five Rings Roleplaying Game".

Peter Adkison is married to Melissa Reis Adkison.cite web | url = http://www.hiddencitygames.com/staff_bios.php | title = Bios | accessdate = 2007-06-21 | year = 2005 | work = Hidden City Games | language = English ]

Career

Adkison received a bachelor of science in computer science from Walla Walla College in 1985. Adkison has an MBA from the University of Washington. From 1985 through 1991 he worked as a systems analyst for Boeing.

While working for Boeing he was involved in the founding of Wizards of the Coast. With the success of , Peter began working full-time for Wizards of the Coast. As CEO of Wizards of the Coast, he presided over Wizards purchase of TSR, Inc.. Game designer Ed Stark says Adkison said, "Look, computer gaming is the future of roleplaying. We’ve got to get involved in this."cite web | url = http://www.gameinformer.com/News/Story/200408/N04.0831.1912.11478.htm | title = Dungeons & Dragons: The Ed Stark Interview | accessdate = 2007-06-21 | date = 2004-08-31 | last = Berghammer | first = Billy | coauthors = Adam Biessener | work = Gameinformer | language = English ]

In January 2001 Adkison sold Wizards of the Coast to Hasbro. He entered "semi-retirement" engaging in rock-climbing and "lying around".cite web | url = http://archive.gamespy.com/articles/july03/gencon2003/adkison/ | title = Interview with Peter Adkison | accessdate = 2007-06-21 | date = 2003-07-26 | last = Bub | first = Andrew S. | work = GameSpy.com | language = English ] In May 2002 Adkison purchased Gen Con from Hasbro. Adkison had been attending Gen Con since 1992. Adkison claims to have "always loved" Gen Con.cite web | url = http://www.gamingreport.com/modules.php?op=modload&name=Sections&file=index&req=viewarticle&artid=42 | title = Interview with Peter Adkison | accessdate = 2007-06-21 | date = 2002-03-24 | last = White | first = Damon | work = GamingReport.com | language = English ]

In 1999 "Pyramid" magazine named Peter Adkison as one of "The Millennium's Most Influential Persons" "at least in the realm of adventure gaming." [cite journal|title=Second Sight: The Millennium's Best "Other" Game and The Millennium's Most Influential Person|journal=Pyramid (online)|url=http://www.sjgames.com/pyramid/login/article.html?id=1306|last=Haring|first=Scott D.|date=1999-12-24|accessdate=2008-02-15]

Notes

References

* [http://www.pen-paper.net/rpgdb.php?op=showcreator&creatorid=386 Peter Adkison's credits as listed at Pen & Paper's RPG Database]

External links

* [http://www.iwanttobestephencolbertsgamerfriend.com/ Peter Adkison | I want to be Stephen Colbert's gamer friend] - A publicity site for Gen Con based on Stephen Colbert's running joke about his "black friend" as well as references to Colbert's past as a gamer.
* [http://www.gamingreport.com/article.php?sid=9515 GenCon2003: Peter Adkison Open Letter on Gen Con Indy] - An open letter from Peter Adkison on problems with Gen Con Indy 2003 and his plans to improve for next year

Persondata
NAME= Adkison, Peter D.
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SHORT DESCRIPTION= American businessman
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